Editorial: Mergers can be way to cut costs

When it comes to government consolidation, there's too much talk, too little action.

That needs to change because if we're ever going to fix the economy of New York state, we must find ways to reduce the more than 4,200 governments taxing the people who live here.

When it comes to government consolidation, there's too much talk, too little action.
That needs to change because if we're ever going to fix the economy of New York state, we must find ways to reduce the more than 4,200 governments taxing the people who live here.

We're getting closer. But until there is a mandate for reform from the taxpayers themselves, the effort will stall.

A study earlier this year by the Center for Governmental Research in Rochester offers some proof that there's money to be saved. The study found that Long Island taxpayers spend 30 percent more for local-government services than those who live in Fairfax and Loudoun counties in Virginia, which are similar in wealth, housing costs and demographics.

Despite lower costs, the report stated, Virginia residents are more satisfied with the services they get from their local governments, and more Virginians (79 percent) than Long Islanders (64 percent) had a favorable opinion of their county governments.

Gov. Eliot Spitzer is a big proponent of consolidation, and says reducing governments is one way to trim property tax bills, which are among the highest in the nation. He even included $25 million in his budget to continue a program that provides money to municipalities to encourage consolidation efforts. He further appointed a panel - The Commission on Local Government Efficiency - to promote reducing government.

Last week, that panel, chaired by former Lt. Gov. Stan Lundine, said it hopes to use the Rochester study to help make its case. It released 150 new ideas gathered from local officials, including one that would dissolve villages.

Other suggestions:

* Consolidate town and county highway services in 13 counties, as well as water, sewer and storm water systems in nine counties.

* Dissolve Tioga County and merge it with portions of three adjoining counties. County leaders decided they wanted to consider the issue with the help of the commission.

* Consolidate several cities and towns by the same name, including the cities and towns of Chenango, Cortland, Batavia and Oneonta.

Government consolidation was part of the message, too, during a gathering last week of about 100 business, academic and government leaders at SUNYIT in Marcy about the future of Upstate New York's economy. During that forum, F.X. Matt Brewery President Nicholas Matt said one way to improve the economy would be to reduce local government.

"Somebody has got to stop and say this is ridiculous. We can't afford all this," he said.
In Oneida County, for instance, taxing entities include 19 villages, 26 towns and three cities. And don't forget the 15 school districts.

Here's the hitch: Many of the suggestions in the Rochester study would require voter approval. Former Gov. George Pataki talked about lowering costs by consolidating governments, but the idea of regionalizing public services wasn't often rebuffed by the public.

Such attitude was supported by "The Mohawk Valley: The Next Step" poll, commissioned by the Observer-Dispatch, WKTV and WIBX in 2005 and conducted by Zogby International. It showed that nearly two-thirds of local residents believed local government is ineffective when it comes to a host of issues. But more than half of those residents weren't ready to change the current governing structure of Oneida and Herkimer counties.